DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
13 July : Iran is going into mass production of the accurate two-stage 2,000-kilometer range Sejil II ballistic missile powered with solid fuel, which was successfully tested on May 20.
More than 1,000 new Sejil IIs are projected to come off production lines in five years, at the rate of 200 a year.
Western sources say that even with a huge investment, 30 per year is their maximum output.
Liquid-fuel missiles like the Shehab take hours to prepare for firing, during which time they are exposed to oversight by US and Israel spy satellites, whereas the Sejil because it is powered by solid fuel has the huge advantage of stealth. Iran has also recruited Chinese missile experts to assist in the production of mobile launchers for the Sejil II. The combination of the solid-fuel Sejil mounted on mobile vehicles will give an Iranian missile attack the advantage of surprise.
Israel has entered the arms race by stepping up production of the Arrow anti-missile systems.
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On an update, Israeli Navy has gone on maneuvers in Pacific Ocean to test it's long range updated missile defense system. An Iranian attack would not be due until after the test and current Israeli Air Force exercises in Nevada have ended, but likely to occur before Ramadan tis year.-MjS
